Want to support the channel? Buy me a coffee :-) www.buymeacoffee.com/DanZm If you are thinking of buying a freeze dryer, please consider supporting us by purchasing through our affiliate link. It helps us and costs you nothing! affiliates.harvestright.com/995.html First 500 lbs data spreadsheet link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1ieekdk5aH_2OWLUealeOLurU9_zl03BfFEg_qhAgcaA/edit?usp=sharing Batch worksheet link: docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13DCB2hXo9_ZYrhIUicLk2IrEaQGszwbaJTcEH8wJxk4/edit?usp=sharing

bob ross of the freeze drying food

I just got my new Harvest Right fully hooked up and am getting ready to do the batch of bread to burn off the "new car smell" as the book calls it. I've got a list of foods to freeze dry. I appreciate all of the work you've been doing to make these videos. I've learned a great deal from you.

@SchoolReports

8 күн бұрын

Congratulations! Good for you to have a list of things you plan to do. Until I started making the "First 50 Batch" series of videos, we had never even given much thought to having any plan or goal for our freeze drying. That was one big reason I started making the series, to tell other people to start with a plan or goal. Any plan or goal!

I find it incredibly interesting as to how much water WAS in those two food items in their shelf packaging. This video is a great lesson in understanding how or why FD'ing makes a whole lotta sense.

@SchoolReports

Жыл бұрын

It was a surprise to me just how much water there was. I was really happy that the water demo at the end shows the issue so well. (At least in my opinion) Maybe I should have given this video one of those stupid over-the-top KZread titles; I FREEZE DRIED SOME "DRY" STUFF - YOU WON'T BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENED!!! with the equally bad open-mouth (pretend) shocked face thumbnail.

@darrylgordon5170

Жыл бұрын

@SchoolReports I have, for quite some time now, wondered, "Can I vacuum seal DRY goods and be confident that it won't spoil?" The reason I have asked this question is that I know there is still water in all dry goods. they are dry enough to be shelf stable and safe for short term, 1 to 2 years, storage. but I want long term, 25 plus years, storage. the only way to guarantee that is to remove more water. I like the weight and temp measurements for determining "doneness." I will adopt that practice. the demonstration at the end drives home the fact that "dry, really isn't dry." you could add the cheesy thumbnail pic and the over the top name, and you would probably get more views. But then it would degrade the value of the video. in my humble opinion. but I am kinda nerdy at times, so take it for what it's worth.

Thank you so much. I’m shocked at how much water was in those items!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching. I knew there would be water in the "dry" food, but I was surprised by how much there was!

Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge. Bought you a coffee.

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

😀

I appreciate how scientific you are with this freeze drying. I am getting my FD this week and have been watching many diff videos. I have been on earned how nonchalant some people are about not knowing if their food is truly dry. I don’t want to invest all this money and time and then have it not be edible in a few years. Thank you for all your hard work and explanations.

@SchoolReports

11 ай бұрын

Nonchalant. And sometimes just downright silly! Thanks for watching, commenting, and for the kind words! I hope you find some of it useful. Isn't it amazing how much water is in "dry" food? This experiment even surprised me. "Remember kids, the only difference between Science and screwing around is writing it down." The only really important thing is the _Dry Check._ As far as I'm concerned, anyone who is bagging any food for storage without doing a _Dry Check,_ using a sensitize scale, is wasting their time, food, and money. Without the _Dry Check_ you're just guessing as to whether or not the food is dry. This is my personal guideline about dry food: 🤣(Only a little tongue-in-cheek) #1 Never trust the freeze dryer or a spot check moisture meter to tell you if the food is dry! Do a Dry Check using a scale to make sure it's dry before bagging and storing. #2 Don't overload the freeze dryer. I try to keep the medium machine to a maximum of about 8 pounds of Water Weight per batch. (I have had 11+ lbs of water. It took a long time and I won't do that again) #3 Don't make the food on the trays too thick (height, not viscosity) If you do, you may have to run the batch twice. #4 When in doubt about dryness, add extra final dry time. #5 Never trust the freeze dryer or a spot check moisture meter to tell you if the food is dry! Do a Dry Check using a scale to make SURE it's dry. #6 NEVER trust the freeze dryer or a spot check moisture meter to tell you if the food is dry! IT CAN'T KNOW! Do a Dry Check using a scale to make SURE it's ALL dry before bagging and storing. I've heard from too many people that thought their food was dry, only to check again a short time later (or a year or 2) and find out it wasn't, and now it has gone bad. My biggest issue with the Harvest Right manuals is where it just says ". . .Check the material thoroughly to make sure it is completely dry . . ." with no hint as to how to accomplish this in a way to _ensure_ it's 100% dry every time. I have a bad feeling that a lot of people are going to find out someday that some of their food was not dry enough. Many foods can hide moisture that's not noticed at the time of bagging. #1 rule of freeze drying - Never trust the freeze dryer or a spot check moisture meter to tell you if the food is dry! _It can't know!_ I'm paranoid about having water in my freeze dried bags of food. 🤣 Remember, I'm just another idiot on the internet. I could be wrong. The #1 joke at our house is "But, I saw it on the internet!" Consider looking at what commercial companies are doing. That's where I look to for guidance. If they can do it, we probably can too. (with method adjustments)

Wow! Who would have thought so much water was in the rice.

@SchoolReports

4 ай бұрын

I know I was surprised! I knew there would be water in the "dry rice," but even I was surprised by the amount. I was trying to illustrate that there is no way to tell if freeze dried food is finished drying just by feeling.

More instant than instant rice, I wonder how much water is in instant potatoes

Thanks!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! And thanks for watching.

Smart ideas!! Love your channel.

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! 😊

Thank you

WOW ! Thanks for taking the time to teach!!!

@SchoolReports

Жыл бұрын

It was interesting. 😇 Who knew that dry things would have so much water?

Great info thanks for sharing , I would not have thought to do the rice .

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

It had a lot more water than I expected.

I am amazed at how much moisture was in it

@SchoolReports

Жыл бұрын

Ditto! I knew there would be water in the "dry" food, but it was surprising how much there was.

Another great video. Thank you

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks.

Excellent demonstration!!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! Who there was so much water in "dry" food!

Thanks so much for another great vid!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks again for watching!

Great demonstration at the end. Thank you!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks. What did you think of the Chocolate Mousse in batch 40?

@eileenniehaus5368

2 жыл бұрын

@@SchoolReports I need to rewatch it, I was busy when I watched but it looked a bit complicated for me, all those little pieces. I bet they taste amazing though. Maybe some day... Taking another break from freeze drying cause of life and work.

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

@@eileenniehaus5368 When we're not freeze drying it, we just spoon it into cups to chill and eat! Much quicker.

@eileenniehaus5368

2 жыл бұрын

@@SchoolReports hmmmmm

I cook 4 cups rice with 8 cups of water. Freeze dry in my medium freeze dryer. The result is 2 cups of already made rice + 1 cups of hot water. Voila, Instant rice for dirt cheap.

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

Agree 100%! (This was my sister's batch) But I was surprised that the big box of Minute Rice was only $5.37. I like to do my rice using 4 cups of rice to 6 or 7 cups of water or broth so that it ends up a bit under done and on the dry side, because I don't like wet or soggy rice. Batch 23 - Rice, cooked w/chicken broth kzread.info/dash/bejne/eIhrkq-YorSXgMo.html

I’ve been wanting to get a freeze dryer, but if it’s this much of a hassle I may rethink

@SchoolReports

Ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and for commenting! The freeze drying process really is a lot simpler and quicker than the prepping and cooking most meals! I do show a lot of steps that are not "required" for the freeze drying process because people have asked to see them. But on the other hand I want to be realistic about the process. Some people doing freeze drying pretend that the machines can "know" when the drying is complete - they can not. The total needed hands-on time is actually very short and easy if you're not trying to document it on video. Like most new things, it seems a bit complicated the first time, but it's not. Like learning to ride a bike.

How much water do you think is in NON minute rice? I ask because people say standard rice in mylar can last decades (which was my thought). But is there water in those? Guess I may need to try... Thanks School!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

I do want to try regular, uncooked rice to find out the water content.

@annwithaplan9766

2 жыл бұрын

@@SchoolReports - Wouldn't using a desiccant be a better option?

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

@@annwithaplan9766 Might be good as an addition; I would still remove the water first. 🙂I don't see how leaving the water in the bag with the food and just adding a desiccant could be a better option. It could be an interesting side-by-side experiment!

Could you reconstitute then precook the potatoes and regular rice then freeze dry.

@SchoolReports

3 ай бұрын

Absolutely! That would what we do most of the time. Rice, cooked w/chicken broth - kzread.info/dash/bejne/eIhrkq-YorSXgMo.htmlsi=er03vJIld8pzQkHt Potatoes - Freeze Dried Hash Browns - kzread.info/dash/bejne/pJVru6Z-p5C2adI.htmlsi=faQ1qTISPV5WXnPy (from frozen, but it could have been done from fresh) Batch 654 Freeze Drying Cooked Potato Cubes - kzread.info/dash/bejne/dWauqtebl82adZc.htmlsi=7d8oMptsq7l-jGT5 This batch of "Dry" food was mostly to show people that what they think of as dry, may not actually be dry. It's impossible to tell by feeling.

😃 ❤️ 🐸 *

this was instant rice. Can we assume uncooked rice is fine not FD for long term storage, or does uncooked rice pick up moisture in the air ?

@SchoolReports

3 ай бұрын

Uncooked rice is complicated. Dry, uncooked rice is going to be over 10% moisture by weight, depending on the temperature, but it kind of needs some of that moisture under "normal" storage conditions. One of the problems with water in food, when in a sealed container, is that the humidity levels change (a lot) with temperature changes. This can change safe Water Activity (aw) levels from a safe range to an unsafe range. This article talks a lot about the subject of moisture levels in rice: Rice Drying, Storage and Processing: Effects of Post-Harvest Operations on Grain Quality - www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1672630821000998

Hmm I've seen other people do the dry hash browns- thought that was a neat way of extending the shelf life. Never thought to do the minuet rice- cool. What do you think about FD'ing cheerios, have you tried to FD these? Might be a fun experiment.

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

I haven't tried Cheerios in the FDer. My Cheerios eaters are grown, so I don't have any Cheerios.🤣 Might be worth a try.

@SchoolReports

Жыл бұрын

Cheerios video today.

Where did you get the pan dividers? Great idea.

@SchoolReports

7 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching and commenting! The dividers are just something I made. The dividers are designed to fit the pans we got at a Dollar Tree store. They were called 8x8" but the bottoms are about 7x7", 2 1/2 pans are a perfect fit ** for our medium freeze dryer trays. (Turns out they have them online too www.dollartree.com/cooking-concepts-square-cake-pans-75-in/10065 ) The file is on Thingiverse. www.thingiverse.com/thing:3848619 (Some people feel that it's wrong to have food touch plastic - it's low on my personal risk list) I've updated the Thingiverse listing to include a new version of the divider that is slightly narrower at the bottom to fit more of the pans. ** Clarification on the 2 1/2 pans per tray; it only works IF the divider is the thickness I use. (or thicker) The freeze dryer trays actually fits about 1/2" less than 2 1/2 pans; that's one reason I made the dividers that thick, that and to fit the magnets. For those without a 3D printer, here's my best ideas for getting some 3D printed dividers. Lots of areas have Maker's places with people that would love to do it for you. Or, better yet, some schools have 3D printing labs. Check with a the local charter school that has junior high or high school age students. I taught 3D Design and Printing for 3+ years at a local 6th - 8th grade charter school. We loved it when we could find/were given a real-world project with a real need. I finally made a couple of the dividers without using the 3D printer a short time ago. It turns out it's an easy craft project and my sister says they are working well. (I will be making more non 3D printed ones, they're easy, cheap, and work!) Making Dividers for My Pre-freeze Pans Without Using a 3D Printer (For Our Medium Freeze Dryer) kzread.info/dash/bejne/ioKnxLmnYpzelKg.html Stay tuned. 😁 I'm going to show another way using 1/2 thick cutting board. (For people with more tools and/or skills)

Was wondering how dried plums would take to freeze drying. Haven’t seen it done.

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

I'll have to add those to my list!

@SchoolReports

2 жыл бұрын

I forgot to mention that we have freeze dried (regular, not dried) plums. Though they may have been pluots. (The gift box we received didn't say) Freeze Drying Plums and Apples kzread.info/dash/bejne/oZ6ozceGpaSxiJc.html

@DuesenbergJ

2 жыл бұрын

@@SchoolReports that will be interesting. :)

Great video, do you know the rehydrated difference between cooked rice and dries rice? Also the difference between frozen hashbrowns and dried hashbrowns?

@SchoolReports

6 ай бұрын

I'm not sure I understand the question. Do you mean home cooked rice and then freeze dried vs freeze drying minute rice vs uncooked raw rice? In all cases the more it had been cooked before freeze drying the faster it will rehydrate. The frozen hashbrowns will rehydrate quicker than the ones that started out as dried.

@dinakreutzer1827

6 ай бұрын

Yes thank you. That answers my question.

Why would you not use your own farm raised food? I get preserving, This is a terrible idea. Your also storing the preserves and chemicals! Antibiotics and more. Terrible idea!

@SchoolReports

11 ай бұрын

Rice and hashbrowns antibiotics? I don't have a farm.

@JH-tj9jd

11 ай бұрын

Most people don't have a rice paddy.

@SchoolReports

11 ай бұрын

@@JH-tj9jd 👍 🤣